all is over!— But ‘I will tell your honour the whole story just as I got it.’2 Attend, therefore, and before proceeding further, I must beg your indulgence for many inaccuracies that must unavoidably occur in this epistle; and I am confident, I would obtain it,
if I could take up time in telling you under what circumstances I now write.— But this is nothing to the purpose:—and—‘to
our tale’.

You must know, then, that after parting from you on Wednesday-evening, I jogg'd on at a round pace, and arrived at Noble-house3 (jaded enough) about the ninth hour:— ‘We have no room here, Sir’ said the maid ‘the house is full of French prisoners—we
have just now sent seven of them away’;—‘so then I can't stay?—eh bien!’ said I, shrugging up my shoulders—and turning my face towards Newland-bridge ‘I know the worst of it’. Right wearied, I
did arrive at Newland-bridge, a little before ten, and was fortunate enough to procure lodgings sufficiently comfortable.
But to detain you no longer with these minutiae— I started next morning at five—and, sp[l]ashing and plunging thro' wet and mud and mire (for it rained the whole day), I arrived at Moffat about five in the evening—procured
a seat in the Coach—and entered the purlieus of this good town about nine. I found my uncle's house—and got every thing as
I would have had it.

On Friday afternoon, I made bold to call upon Mr. White.4 Figure to yourself a lank, grim, raw-boned Don-Cossack-looking man of about 6 feet in height and sixty years of age—voila M. White. I told him my story, and was very cordially invited to break-fast, next morning. I went, and found with him Mr. Haig Teacher
of English here—Mrs and two Misses White:—when my name was announced, I could perceive a smile playing upon the countenances
of the company—however, not a single ‘remark’ was made upon Donald and Walsh, and consequently our controversy never came
upon the tapis.5 I staied with him till eleven this morning, talking of Mathematics &c—and as far as I could see into him he appears to be
a man of great Mathematical knowledge—of much reading—and deep research. He informed me that he was examiner of the candidates for Annan—that he himself had stood trials and that we might depend upon being tenderly and genteely used.

Well, to come to the crisis.— I proceeded, after meeting Mr Dalgliesh, the rector, Mr Waugh, Mr. Hurst &c (Mr. Footy [underscored twice] was not there) to the Globe inn, where I was introduced to Francy Thomson,6 concerning whom I need not say a word, since you know him already. After a great number of professions of candour—justice, honour &c. from all parties the questions,
with all due ceremony were produced—and to solve them Francy and I were left with the room to ourselves. Two hours were allowed us; and the Examiner [underscored twice], called upon us repeatedly to see that all things were rightly understood. Not to detain you with many
words— White gave in his report in favour of your humble servant, who was in consequence invested in due form, with his office,
together with all rights and appurtances thereunto belonging; and had his health drunk (we had already dined) and success
wished him by the Directors of the Annan Academy and all the members of the company.— This arduum certamen [lofty contest] is thus you see come to a close— Thank Heaven for it! say I.— I must add, that I enter upon my office on Monday morning, and consequently that I must leave this to-morrow morning. I can't be in Edinr therefore—at this time. Mr. Waugh7 is coming to Edinr, I believe in a week—to teach; and I will likely consign to him the charge of Messrs. Hay and Biddle8— together with the charge of another letter to your worship.

You will readily excuse the egotism of this letter, for it is what you desired— I therefore make no apology on that head.—
Neither do I beg your pardon for putting you to the trouble of superintending the conveyance of my trunks; but order you,
without scruple, to see them safe off—and also to tell Jack and Mrs. For[r]est9—what has been the result of all this proceeding.—

I proceed now to tell you how I have transacted yours and the bards10 business. I gave in both your letters to the Courier office, on friday— I delivered the poet's letter to Preacher;—and having
met Jeffrey11 on the street I gave him his also.— By the way don't forget to tell Mr Irving, that Preacher complains very much of ‘Fair
Helen’ never yet being come—and says he could have sold many a copy, had he had them here.

You will see by the hand writing, as well as the substance of this letter, that at present, I'm nae the thing [not quite well]: and as I myself am sensible of that,— I will have done immediately. In good truth I have nothing more to say; but merely that I desire you to give my compliments to Mr. and Mrs Irving—to Mr. & Mrs Forrest—and by all manner of means
not to forget Miss J. Merchant among the number of my friends. You can ask her (if you like) whether the large stone of Braid12 is melted away yet—and you can tell yourself if she say no, that there is one boy [underscored twice] in this planet, that does not care three halfpence about the matter.— This is all Greek to you—no matter.

My Dear Tom, write me directly—and regularly; for as I shall have few or no acquaintance in Annan, the correspondence of a
friend will be doubly acceptable. You shall hear from me soon—and I will then be able to enter more into detail—at present I have only time to say, that I remain

1. This must be misdated. It should not have taken a month for it to be postmarked and no reference suggests it was held up.
More conclusively, see TC to TM, [1 July]: “after going to Annan on Monday morning, I commenced—my teaching.” Clearly there cannot have been a gap of several weeks.
So, assuming the date ought to be 1814 June, TC's calendar reads as follows: Wed. 15th, left TM; Fri. 17th, interview; Sat. 18th, wrote letter; Mon. 20th, began work.

2. The account is of Carlyle's interview for the post of mathematics master at Annan Academy, which he held until the end of
1816.

3. A farm in the parish of Newlands in Peeblesshire, once a famous inn and posting stage.

7. John Smith Waugh ( 1791–1858), son of Marion Waugh, shoemaker. He was educated at Annan Academy and Edinburgh University and was for some years mathematics
master at Annan Academy prior to TC. He graduated as a doctor, settled in Annan, and died in abject poverty. He published
Dissertation on Prophecies of Sacred Scripture which Relate to the Anti-Christian Powers (1833) at his own expense and Science of Cerebro-Spinal Phenomena Attempted (1838). The Carlyle brothers nicknamed him “this child of misfortune.” It was probably his father who helped interview Carlyle
for the position at Annan.

9. Carlyle's landlord and landlady at 3 South Richmond St. Edinburgh. Forrest was a merchant. Thomas Murray wrote to Carlyle
on 21 June: “It gave me as well as Mr. and Mrs. For[r]est the highest pleasure to learn that you had been successful. We got half-drunk about it … could I paint to you the feelings
and the anxiety that were excited chiefly in the breast (O Glorious Word!) of Miss Merchant I know it would give you pleasure
because It would let you know that You have friends—real friends in Edinburgh and that the name of Carlyle recalls many a
past and happy scene. The fact is we resolved to drink your health—your health was drunk most cordially by all; and emotions
were aroused which actually made Mr Fo[r]rest and me appear as rather mellow.

11. Possibly George or Robert Jeffrey, university friends; certainly not Francis.

12. Carlyle probably refers either to the Buckstane (a piece of freestone about three feet high) in a wall in the Braid Hills
area of Edinburgh, a march stone from medieval days taking its name from the fact that the royal buck-hounds were unleashed
there, or the Caiy stane, a tall piece of red sandstone a little farther southwest. Obviously this is a private joke. Miss
Merchant seems to have been the subject of a mild flirtation for Carlyle and Murray. In his letter of 21 June, Murray wrote to Carlyle: “Miss Merchant when told several days ago that you were gone, felt very keenly. Poor thing! she
appears to have a warm and generous heart— With all her vanity she possesses many excellent and endearing qualities. … She
has been repeating great scraps of Poetry applicable to the occasion, and desired me to remember her to you in the most kind manner, and as we were going
home she often said—I did not know her motive—I never looked upon Mr Carlyle as a sweetheart but as a very good friend!— Love I replied is only a pure and exalted friendship— Well Sir said she ‘I'll grant you!’ but—but—I never looked upon Mr.
C. as a sweetheart!— When you write say something flattering that I may shew it her.”